Table Games Are Better Than Slot Machines

Introduction: Why You Should Play Table Games Instead of Slot Machines

We believe that from an online gambler’s perspective, it would be better if casinos simply dropped all their slot machines and just concentrated on table games. For a start, you’d end up losing less money. Also, table games are much more immersive meaning that you’re going to have a better time playing. The fun factor is much, much greater. From a practical point of view, it all comes down to Benjamin’s. But just how much can you save by sticking with table games and ignoring the slots? That’s what we’re going to try and answer.

Table Games are Better Than Slot Machines: How Average Losses Work in Casino Games

As you well know by now, all casinos have a “house edge”. You can also express this same number as the average amount you can expect to lose in the long term. That number will be expressed as a percentage. So, if you’re playing a casino game with a 5% house edge, then if you’re wagering $10 per round, then your expected lose per bet is going to be 50 cents. A good way of figuring out a casino game is to calculate the expected loss per hour. Here’s the formula:

Average bet size X number of bets per hour X house edge = expected hourly loss

Let’s say that you’re playing an online slot machine. The house edge is 5%. You’re spinning the reels at 600 spins each hour and betting $1 each time. So, you’re expected losses can e calculated as:

$1 X 600 bets per hour X 5% = $30/hour

Yes, we know this isn’t exact. But if you gambled for a long enough time, then your actual results will get closer and closer to the mathematical average of predicted results. Now if you were to lower any of these three factors, then you can safely expect to also reduce your losses. If you decided to only play half as fast, your expected losses would drop from $30 to $15 per hour. But your stakes and the game would remain the same.

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Why It Only Seems Like Table Games Are More Expensive

If you take a look at the minimum bet for most online table games, you’ll see that it’s around $5 – $10. Now, compared with a slots machine, at just $1 per round, and table games seem awfully expensive. But the difference is in the rate of play. Table games are by default much, much slower playing than repeatedly hitting the spin button on a slot. As an added bonus, the house edge on table games is also a lot lower.

If you’re searching for a slot machine with a lower house edge than 5%, then good luck to you. The chances are better that you’ll find a Unicorn dressed as a Dodo. Most slot machines actually start the house edge at around 10%. Even roulette, with its house edge of 5.26% is going to be better than your average slot. Yes, it’s true that we are not taking into consideration the huge prize money on offer from jackpot slot machines. But they only happen once in a blue moon….and never for you!

Your Average Loss Per Hour

Let’s suppose that your playing roulette at $5 per spin. So you’re probably making around 50 bets each hour. We already know that the house edge is 5.26%. Thus your average loss on the roulette table is going to look like this:

$5 X 50 bets per hour X 5.26% = $13.15

Now that’s less than half your expected loss if you were playing the slot machines. Even if you were pumping in $1 wagers per spin, roulette makes for a better economy in spite of wagering 5 x the amount per round. Let’s take a game like blackjack. Once you’ve learned basic strategy, then the house edge falls to 1%. So if you’re playing at a table where the dealer knocks out 70 hands each hour, then your losses look like this:

$5 X 70 bets per hour X 1% = $3.50

That’s right, just $3.50 per hour! What other forms of entertainment are that cheap?

Table Games are Better Than Slot Machines: It’s Okay to Ask the Dealer Questions

Many people who go to the casino tend to gravitate towards the slot machines. This is natural in that many people don’t know how to play table games. But you can learn to play these games in no time at all. In fact any casinos will give classes in all table games. It’s in their interest to have as many people playing as possible. These classes are usually held in the quieter periods of the day, like the mornings when the games tables would be slow anyway. Also, you can also find many excellent YouTube instructional videos. Then there is any number of web sites offering free versions of all your favorite games. There’s really no excuse for being unable to play.

When you sit down at the games table for the first time, don’t be shy. If you don’t understand something, simply ask the dealer and he’ll be only too happy to sort you out. The casino day is long, and so the dealer is always happy with some interaction from customers. And everyone likes to show off their knowledge.

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Which Table Games Should You Play?

OK…the simple answer is that ANY table game is going to be better than a slot machine. But it’s true that some table games are better than others. Though this can also depend on the kind of gambling experience you want and your temperament as a player. Without a doubt, the game with the best odds in the casino is going to be blackjack. With skill, you can even get the house edge down to 0.5%. The thing with blackjack is that in order to beat the bank, you’ll need to learn some skills. It’s called basic strategy. The good news is that you can simply write down all the details and bring it to the table. Then consult your basic strategy chart on every hand. Yes, we know that it doesn’t look cool bringing a chart to the table, but in truth, no one cares.

Another table game for your consideration is craps. It’s both fun and exciting, and the house edge is pretty low. But for this, you must stick with the most basic bets and not get carried away with exotic wagers. The game is very fast and so can seem a little overwhelming at first. But it’s very easy to play and, like riding a bicycle, once you have the knack, then you have it forever.

A lot of more serious gamblers tend to turn their noses up at the roulette table. Yes, it does have a higher house edge than other table games, but it’s also seen as too sedate. The gameplay is positively snail-paced and many find it almost boring. On the whole, you’ll be placing around 30 – 50 bets each hour. This translates into much lower losses as you’re putting in less cash each hour. The even-money bets are great. But we suggest that you steer well clear of any of the betting systems like the Martingale.

Then there’s the new breed of jackpot poker games that are starting to become popular in casinos. These include Mississippi Stud Poker and, the older favorite, Let it Ride Poker. If you’re willing to learn something new, then there’s no reason why any casino table game should be beyond your reach. We have a great poker guide for you to get started with, as well as a listing of the best site to play poker. As a matter of course, you should try every one just to see which one suits your style of play.

Conclusion: Table Games are Better Than Slot Machines

Now you can see more clearly why we prefer casino table games to slot machines. You not only learn some new skills but end up having a longer play period for less money. The fact that a decent game of blackjack will only cost you around $4 per hour in losses, means it’s great value for money. What else can you get for that sort of cash?

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